Insulated drinking vessel with multifunction lid
The present embodiments describe an insulated drinking vessel with a multifunction lid. In an embodiment, the drinking vessel can be configured to receive a multifunction lid. The multifunction lid may, in one embodiment, include an opening for receiving a drinking straw. In an embodiment, the multifunction lid may additionally include an opening for drinking or sipping directly through the lid. In an embodiment, the lid may include an operable cover for covering at least one of the openings in a first position and for allowing access to the fluid through the opening in a second position. In a further embodiment, the lid may include a plurality of operable covers. A first operable cover may be configured for covering the drinking straw opening in a first position and allowing insertion of a straw in a second position. The lid may also include an operable cover for covering the sipping spout in a first position and allowing drinking directly through the spout in a second position.
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This Application claim priority from and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/076,910, entitled INSULATED DRINKING VESSEL WITH MULTIFUNCTION LID, and filed Mar. 22, 2016.
FIELDThis disclosure relates generally to drinking vessels, and more specifically, to an insulated drinking vessel with a multifunction lid.
BACKGROUNDDrinking vessels, such as cups, insulated beverage containers, canteens, and the like are used to contain fluids for drinking. Fluids tend to spill if left in an open container, so many drinking vessels include a lid. Some lids include openings for allowing controlled passage of the fluid to a user of the vessel. In some cases, the opening is a hole or slot for receiving a drinking straw. In other cases, the opening is a hole or slot for sipping directly through the lid. Various forms of such drinking vessels are known in the art. For example, paper disposable cups commonly include a plastic lid with an “X” shaped opening cut in the surface thereof for receiving a drinking straw. Many disposable coffee cups may be covered with a lid that includes a slot or spout for sipping directly through the lid. Such lids often include a secondary hole or opening for allowing passage of air through the lid, thereby equalizing the pressure inside the drinking vessel and the environment outside of the drinking vessel.
Some drinking vessels are insulated to reduce thermal transfer between the fluid contained in the drinking vessel and the external environment. For example, some disposable coffee cups are formed of an insulating material, such as a polymer foam. Other insulated drinking vessels may include an inner vessel and an outer shell, where at least a portion of the outer shell is spaced apart from a portion of the inner vessel. In some insulated drinking vessels, the space between the inner vessel and the outer shell is filled with air. In other cases the space may be filled with an insulating material, such as a fibrous material, a polymer foam material, or the like. In other cases, the space between the inner vessel and the outer shell is vacuum sealed. Known drinking vessels are commonly made from paper, polymers, foam, plastic, metal, and the like.
People often use covered drinking vessels when they are on the move. For example, it may be desirable to cover a drinking vessel when transporting the fluid on foot or in a vehicle. Additionally, it may be desirable to use a covered drinking vessel in the outdoors to prevent contamination of the fluids by dirt, insects, or the like. Because covered drinking vessels may be used in a variety of circumstances, and with a variety of different fluids, it may be useful to have a variety of access options. Unfortunately, drinking vessels are typically only provided with a lid configured for a single mode of access, such as with a straw, or with a drinking spout.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of systems and apparatuses including an insulated drinking vessel with a multifunction lid are described. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a lid configured to engage an opening of a container, the lid configured to retain the liquid within the container. The apparatus may further include a first opening in the lid for dispensing liquid across a rim of the lid. Additionally, the apparatus may include a second opening in the lid for receiving a drinking straw. The apparatus may also include a first cover for covering the first opening in a first position and for allowing access to the first opening in a second position. Also, the apparatus may include a second cover for covering the second opening in a first position and for allowing access to the second opening in a second position.
An embodiment of a system may include a container for containing liquids, and a lid configured to engage an opening of the container, the lid configured to retain the liquid within the container. The lid may include a first opening for dispensing liquid across a rim of the lid, a second opening for receiving a drinking straw, a first cover for covering the first opening in a first position and for allowing access to the first opening in a second position, and a second cover for covering the second opening in a first position and for allowing access to the second opening in a second position.
The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.
Various features and advantageous details are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
The present embodiments describe an insulated drinking vessel with a multifunction lid. For example, in an embodiment, the insulated drinking vessel may be a tumbler style cup. The tumbler may be formed of stainless steel sheet metal. The drinking vessel may include an inner vessel and an outer shell where at least a portion of the inner vessel is spaced apart from the outer shell, and wherein a space between the inner vessel and the outer shell is vacuum sealed.
In an embodiment, the drinking vessel can be configured to receive a multifunction lid. The multifunction lid may, in one embodiment, include an opening for receiving a drinking straw. In an embodiment, the multifunction lid may additionally include an opening for drinking or sipping directly through the lid. In an embodiment, the lid may include an operable cover for covering at least one of the openings in a first position and for allowing access to the fluid through the opening in a second position. In a further embodiment, the lid may include a plurality of operable covers. A first operable cover may be configured for covering the drinking straw opening in a first position and allowing insertion of a straw in a second position. The lid may also include an operable cover for covering the sipping spout in a first position and allowing drinking directly through the spout in a second position.
In a further embodiment, the multifunction lid may include a raised edge for engaging the lip of a user when the user drinks from the vessel. Beneficially, the smooth surface of the raised edge may provide a superior tactile experience to the user when drinking as compared to the relatively rough surface of the metal drinking vessel. In a further embodiment, the raised edge may be formed with a contour, such as a concave contour, for more fully engaging a lower lip, thereby reducing the tendency for spillage while drinking.
In various embodiments, the multifunction lid may include additional features, such as a vent port for allowing pressure equalization and steady flow of the fluid from the vessel. The lid may also include a flange or handle for removing the lid from the vessel.
The lid 104 may further include one or more sealing members 606 for creating a seal between the body 602 of the lid 104 and a portion of the vessel 102. For example, the sealing member 606 may be an annular rubber or plastic ring, in some embodiments. In particular, multiple sealing members 606 may engage the portion of the vessel 104. In one embodiment, the lid includes two sealing members 606. In an embodiment, a recess 608 may be formed in the upper surface of the lid 104, the recess 608 for retaining liquid inadvertently spilled from the cup through the lid.
In an embodiment, the lid 104 may also include a tab 610 for operating the lid. For example, the tab 610 may be used for grasping the lid 104 to remove it from an opening of the vessel 102.
The lid 104 may also include a first cover 612 for removably covering a drinking spout opening in the vessel 102. Additionally, the lid 104 may include a second cover 614 for removably covering a drinking straw hole in the lid 102. In a further embodiment, the first cover 612 may include a locking mechanism 616 for locking the first cover 612 into a closed or open position. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 616 may include a flange with a recess and a lip thereon for engaging an edge of the raised edge 604.
In
Although the invention(s) is/are described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention(s), as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention(s). Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.
Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The terms “coupled” or “operably coupled” are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless stated otherwise. The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a method or process that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more operations possesses those one or more operations but is not limited to possessing only those one or more operations.
Claims
1. A drinking vessel, comprising:
- a lid configured to engage an opening of a container for containing a liquid, the lid configured to retain the liquid within the container;
- a drinking opening in the lid sized to allow a user to drink from the drinking opening;
- a drinking straw opening in the lid comprising a removable drinking straw accessible for direct contact with a user's lips while drinking from the drinking straw, where the drinking straw opening is spaced laterally apart and separate from the drinking opening in the lid, such that the drinking opening and the drinking straw opening provide independent drinking openings in the lid;
- a first cover attached to the lid to move between a first position and a second position relative to the drinking opening, whereby the first cover is configured to preclude liquid from being dispensed from the drinking opening in the first position and to allow liquid to be dispensed from the drinking opening in the second position; and
- a second cover attached to the lid to move between a first position and a second position relative to the drinking straw opening, whereby the second cover is configured to preclude liquid from being dispensed from the drinking straw opening in the first position and to allow liquid to be dispensed from the drinking straw opening in the second position,
- whereby the first cover and the second cover are attached to the lid such that movement of the first cover between its first and second position is independent of movement of the second cover between its first and second position, and movement of the second cover between its first and second position is independent of movement of the first cover between its first and second position,
- wherein the first cover includes a first hinge for moving the first cover between its first position and its second position on a first axis, and the second cover includes a second hinge for moving the second cover between its first position and its second position on a second axis,
- wherein the first and second axis are offset from a center of the lid toward a side of the lid opposite the drinking opening.
2. A drinking vessel, comprising:
- a lid configured to engage an opening of a container for containing a liquid, the lid configured to retain the liquid within the container;
- a drinking opening in the lid sized to allow a user to drink from the drinking opening;
- a drinking straw opening in the lid comprising a removable drinking straw accessible for direct contact with a user's lips while drinking from the drinking straw, where the drinking straw opening is spaced laterally apart and separate from the drinking opening in the lid, such that the drinking opening and the drinking straw opening provide independent drinking openings in the lid;
- a first cover attached to the lid to move between a first position and a second position relative to the drinking opening, whereby the first cover is configured to preclude liquid from being dispensed from the drinking opening in the first position and to allow liquid to be dispensed from the drinking opening in the second position; and
- a second cover attached to the lid to move between a first position and a second position relative to the drinking straw opening, whereby the second cover is configured to preclude liquid from being dispensed from the drinking straw opening in the first position and to allow liquid to be dispensed from the drinking straw opening in the second position,
- whereby the first cover and the second cover are attached to the lid such that movement of the first cover between its first and second position is independent of movement of the second cover between its first and second position, and movement of the second cover between its first and second position is independent of movement of the first cover between its first and second position,
- wherein the first cover includes a first hinge for moving the first cover between its first position and its second position on a first axis, and the second cover includes a second hinge for moving the second cover between its first position and its second position on a second axis,
- wherein the first and second axis are offset from a center of the lid toward a side of the lid opposite the drinking opening, and wherein the first and second axis are the same axis.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 23, 2022
Date of Patent: Oct 3, 2023
Patent Publication Number: 20220211197
Assignee: Base Brands, LLC (Atlanta, GA)
Inventors: Patrick Spivey (Atlanta, GA), Kenneth Kreafle (Atlanta, GA)
Primary Examiner: Andrew D Perreault
Application Number: 17/702,420
International Classification: A47G 19/22 (20060101); B65D 43/02 (20060101); B65D 43/16 (20060101); B65D 43/22 (20060101); B65D 81/38 (20060101); B65D 51/18 (20060101); B65D 47/00 (20060101); B65D 47/08 (20060101);